National footballer Khaled Zoubi dies aged 57

AMMAN — Former national football player Khaled Zoubi died on Tuesday of stroke at the age of 57. 

Zoubi, the former captain of Ramtha Football Club, played for the national team between 1977 and 1983. 

According to family members, he suffered a stroke in June in the United Arab Emirates, where he was working. He received treatment there for nearly a month and then was transferred to Jordan. 

Zoubi was hit by another stroke a few days ago and fell into a coma, from which he did not recover, according to relatives. 

In 1981, Zoubi led Ramtha to win the league, the biggest achievement in local football. It was the first time a club outside Amman won the title. 

He was the league’s top scorer that season. 

The former footballer was laid to rest on Tuesday in his hometown of Ramtha, some 90km north of Amman. 

Many Jordanians paid tribute to Zoubi on social media, remembering him as a talented player and a “gentleman” on the pitch.